Patent Filed By Disney to Read Guest Emotions and Customize Experiences at Walt Disney World and Other Theme Parks

The Orlando Business Journal has posted that Disney has filed a patent for a system that would be able to analyze the facial expressions of guests on attractions and then alter the attraction by adding extra movement to the ride vehicle, changing the scenery, creating more interaction, etc. that would help to ensure that the guest has the most enjoyable, engaging experience possible. This would be done via cameras in the ride vehicles or possibly another device, like maybe Magic Bands.

Per the patent, “The technology would allow rides to adjust show content appropriate for pre-teens, teenagers or adults; or for thrill-seeking and non thrill-seeking passengers. The control system may also operate the vehicle to address (e.g. even solve in some cases) motion sickness issues for passengers such as by adjusting speed or movement patterns of a vehicle. [Through RFID or some other identifying system] access one or more ride experience goals (or expectations) for the occupant. For example, the occupant may simply desire transportation while in the automated trackless vehicle and, hence, will not be wanting to interact with to be entertained by external display systems. In other cases, though, the occupant may have provided goals/expectations (e.g. by completing a questionnaire on a website or the like) that indicate they want to be educated during the ride, be entertained in a particular manner during the ride, be informed of sales on services or merchandise during the ride, and so on. In the same or other cases, the goals/expectations may indicate whether the ride experience should be thrilling, as smooth as possible, or something in between.”

We don’t know yet which attraction(s) would first see this technology added and to what level it would be incorporated, but we now that it will be awesome! We will keep you posted as we learn more about this development.

Check out our article below 18 Numbers That Tell Us How Big Walt Disney World Is by Cassie

By Cassie

Number of guests: Walt Disney World is the leading theme park in the world, based on park attendance reaching 18.6 million for 2013. Magic Kingdom remains the number 1 park in the world based on guest numbers at 18.6 million, Epcot had 11.2 million followed by Animal Kingdom at 10.2 million, and Hollywood Studios at 10.1 million. The total for all 11 Disney Parks across the globe was 132.5 million in 2013, making it more than double that of its closest competitor, helping to bring them 2.2 million in profits corporate wide.

Number of acres: 27,258. Walt Disney World covers 47 square miles of Central Florida. (This is about the size of San Francisco or two Manhattan’s.) Walt felt like Disneyland was hemmed in by having no buffer land between his beloved park and the rest of the city around it. He wanted buffer space and plenty of land to build on when purchasing land for his “Florida Project”. The land was purchased at a price of $5,018, 770. It is the largest theme park resort in the world. Only 5900 acres have been developed thus far. It took 52 months to build the 1971 opening day version of Walt Disney World (18 months of that was just for moving dirt to prepare the site). 850 acres are covered by the lakes and waterways systems. Epcot uses 300 acres, Magic Kingdom about 100, 154 for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and 403 acres in Animal Kingdom, not counting the parking lots.

Number of parks: No other theme park resort has four major parks, and then adding in DisneyQuest, and two water parks, and no one else in the world competes with Walt Disney World on this point.

Number of attractions: 139 attractions are listed resort wide on the official Walt Disney World website. Breaking down the 84 Park attractions this way- Magic Kingdom has 42; 19 in Hollywood Studios, 28 in Animal Kingdom, and 35 in Epcot

Number of shows or forms of entertainment: There are 122 venues resort wide. You can watch a show or enjoy a performance 19 locations in Magic Kingdom, 6 in Animal Kingdom, 14 in Epcot, and 11 at Hollywood Studios.

Number of hotels: There are 30 resorts located on Walt Disney World property offering guests anything from a tent campsite to a luxurious Villa. Each resort is Disney-themed, some from famous Disney movies, sports-themed, futuristic, Caribbean, northeast coastline, you name it and there is probably a Disney resort you will enjoy being immersed in.

Number of golf courses: There are 4 golf courses, golf lessons, and three miniature golf courses on Walt Disney World property. This is the most on any Disney property worldwide. There are 77 opportunities listed under Sports & Recreation at the WDW resort.

Number of dining locations: 309 resort-wide, (not counting food carts), there are 19 Character dining experiences; 30 dining locations in Magic Kingdom; 49 in Epcot, 28 in Hollywood Studios, and 15 in Animal Kingdom according to the current Walt Disney World website.

Number of transportation options: 750 water crafts puts WDW in 5th place in number of watercraft employed in a single location across the world; 270 buses, that travel over 15 million miles a year; each bus driver goes through several weeks of training before driving alone. They must have all the miles of roads and routes memorized because they do not just drive one route, they drive them all, as they are needed. Many parts of the routes are not marked or lighted at night so it is easy to get lost if you have not mastered them. 23 trams operate in the Disney World parking lots.

Number of Cast Members: Walt Disney World is the largest employer in any single location, with over 65,000 Cast Members who fill the 3000 roles it takes to present the magic at the Walt Disney World resort.

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Number of park operating hours this is a number I would like to know, but have not found. Taking into account days the park hours are extended due to increased crowd level, Extra Magic Hours, Parties, 24-hour events, I believe Walt Disney World has to be at the top of the list. My 2nd favorite part as a Guest is when I hear that rare public announcement throughout the park stating the hours have just been extended for the day to give us even more time to enjoy the attractions. My favorite experience is when the park is open 24 hours for a special event.

Number of free things: FP+ is included with admission to the Walt Disney World parks at no additional charge, unlike some other Orlando theme parks; Extra Magic Hours and complimentary Magic Bands for WDW resort guests; games within the Parks- Pirates Adventure-Treasures of the Seven Seas and Sorcerers Apprentice at Magic Kingdom; Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure game at Epcot; Wilderness Explorers Club at Animal Kingdom; don’t forget the all-important free ice water at any counter service location; samples at Goofy’s Candy Company and Main Street Confectionary; Club Cool with free samples of soft drinks from around the world; complimentary drawing from Animation Academy where you learn to draw a Disney character in 20 minutes(with admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.)

Number of costumes: for major characters such as Minnie Mouse who has over 200 costumes and Mickey Mouse with almost 300 costumes. Regular Cast Members: require 1.8 million costume pieces to be maintained and 200,000 pieces to be constructed annually. There are 3700 different costume designs. 2.5 million Costumes exist in Costuming for Cast Members to “check out”. Each CM is allowed to have three complete costumes out at any one time. They may also request one coat and hat. This keeps many of them running between the attractions and costuming to have the right outfit for the attraction(s) they are working that week.

Number of character meet and greets: 160 different characters are available for you to meet and greet, get photos and autographs with at Walt Disney World. They are not all out every day so check your Times Guide at the front of the park to check on who is out where and when. You can also ask a Cast Member. There are currently 33 at Magic Kingdom, 17 at Epcot, 17 at Hollywood Studios, and 13 at Animal Kingdom.

Number of food items: Of the 6000 different food items sold in the park annually-Turkey Legs sold: over 1.6 million; there are also 3.3 million Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars sold each year; 5.8 million hot dogs and 9.7 million hamburgers; 9 million pounds of French fries; 3.2 million pizzas; This is where the big money is made, along with merchandise sales, such as the 3.5 million mouse ears sold.

Number of Fireworks performances: 1,000 in a year, making WDW North Americas largest consumer of fireworks.

Number of live animals: Animal Kingdom is home to 1700 animals, 5000 fish and 2000 insects; and Epcot hosts 6000 sea creatures in The Seas with Nemo and Friends. Tri-Circle D Ranch has horseback riding opportunities, and it is the home for the horses used to pull carriages, and the Main Street Trolley. Affection Section at Animal Kingdom allows you to visit and pet a couple dozen animals. Animal Kingdom Lodge has live animals that graze nearby. (Sea World Orlando reportedly has 3000 creatures.)

Number of Special Events and Tours: 57 opportunities exist at Walt Disney World. You can learn how Steam Trains work and their history or maybe go on a VIP safari on the Wild Africa Trek. Maybe you would like to swim with dolphins or do some deep sea diving? Want to know what the Disney Parks look like behind the scenes? You can do that too!

Thanks to Forbes.com, Disney.go.com, and disneybythenumbers.com for providing some of the facts for this piece.

About Christy Caby

I am a long time Disney addict! This love began as a child and stayed with me in my teen years. I completed the Disney College Program, was engaged and honeymooned at Disney, visited WDW while pregnant with each of our two boys, and have brought our boys since they were babies (they are now 5 and 2).

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